What was supposed to be an exciting day learning about wild animals turned into a terrifying ordeal when an 8-year-old girl was attacked by a wolf at a German wildlife park, leaving her seriously injured and prompting a criminal investigation into the employee responsible for supervising the children.
The frightening incident unfolded Wednesday, October 28, at Wildpark Johannismühle, a popular wildlife attraction near Baruth/Mark, south of Berlin, where the young girl was participating in a special hands-on zookeeper experience with two other children.
But the educational outing took a devastating turn when at least one Arctic wolf attacked the girl inside an animal enclosure, sending staff members scrambling to intervene before anyone else was hurt.
According to authorities in Germany’s Teltow-Fläming district, the incident occurred around 9 a.m., before the park officially opened to the public. The children had been participating in a prearranged activity that involved helping care for animals, including providing water to wolves housed at the facility.
Investigators said the girl was inside the wolf enclosure alongside two other children and a female zookeeper when the attack suddenly occurred.
Officials have not established exactly what triggered the wolf’s behavior or whether more than one animal was involved. However, the attack was serious enough that emergency responders immediately called for a rescue helicopter.
German newspaper Bild reported that the child suffered severe head injuries, although authorities have not publicly confirmed the full extent of her wounds.
Emergency personnel treated the girl at the scene before she was airlifted to a hospital for urgent medical care. Her current condition has not been released.
While the circumstances remain under investigation, officials credited the zookeeper’s quick reaction with preventing the situation from becoming even worse.
The employee reportedly intervened immediately, stopping the animals from harming the two other girls who were participating in the activity. Neither of those children was physically injured.
However, the experience left several people deeply shaken. Authorities arranged emergency psychological support for four individuals, including the three children who had been present during the incident.
The ordeal was also distressing for emergency workers, with officials revealing that the ambulance crew initially dispatched to the scene was relieved of duty afterward.
As investigators began examining what happened, attention turned to the safety procedures that allowed young children to enter an enclosure containing potentially dangerous predators.
Brandenburg police confirmed Thursday, October 29, that the female zookeeper was being investigated on suspicion of negligent bodily injury.
Authorities are examining whether appropriate precautions were followed and whether the attack could have been prevented. The investigation does not mean the employee has been found responsible, and no criminal conviction has been reported.
The wildlife park, which is home to approximately 500 animals representing around 50 species, including Arctic wolves, gray wolves, bears and lynx, was immediately closed following the incident.
District officials said the facility would remain shut until authorities approved its reopening, while the wolf enclosure itself remained secured under existing safety measures.
The incident has also prompted a broader review involving veterinary inspectors and wildlife officials, who will examine both the enclosure’s safety procedures and the animals’ welfare.
Authorities said a professional evaluation of the wolf or wolves involved had not yet been completed, making it too early to determine why the animals attacked.
The park has expressed regret over the incident and pledged its full cooperation with investigators, emphasizing that the injured girl and her family have its support.
Wildpark Johannismühle, which opened in 1997, is known for offering visitors opportunities to observe European wildlife in naturalistic habitats. Its special zookeeper programs allow participants to learn about animal care beyond the experience of an ordinary park visit.
But the attack has raised urgent questions about the risks associated with allowing children into areas housing large predators, even under professional supervision.
For now, investigators are working to reconstruct the sequence of events, determine whether any safety rules were violated and establish what safeguards may be needed before the park can welcome visitors again.
Meanwhile, officials have expressed their hope that the injured girl makes a full recovery, as her family awaits answers about how an exciting wildlife adventure ended in such a frightening ordeal.
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